The annual drinking water report issued by the EPA listed no violations for the town of Wadesboro, according to a summary by the town.
While even bottled water may contain some contaminants, larger amounts in drinking water can affect infants, the elderly, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems, according to the release. Contaminants may be anything from leads from septic systems to farm runoff.
Wadesboro purchases its water from the Anson County water system, which draws from Blewett Falls Lake on the Pee Dee River in Lilesville.
The contaminant rating and the conditions of the watershed are used to create a SWAP (Source Water Assessment Program) susceptibility rating of higher, moderate or lower, according to the release. The Pee Dee River was deemed moderately susceptible. The SWAP report was completed in July 2015.
Most of the testing for contamination was done from January 1 through Dec. 31, 2016. No violations were found during that time.
A small amount (0.136 ppm) of copper was detected from June 11-27, 2016. From Dec. 4-9, 0.063 ppm was detected. The maximum contaminant level goal was 1.3.
MCLGs are “the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health,” the report explains. “MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.”
In both cases, the copper was explained as likely being due to the “corrosion of household plumbing systems” or “erosion of natural deposits.”
The town also fell well within the maximum contaminant level goal for the running annual average of chlorine, with 0.2 ppm detected. The ideal range is between 0.02 and 1.9 ppm. The chloramines level was at 1.58 ppm when tested, well within the 0.9 to 3 ppm acceptable range. Both cases were noted as a “water additive used to control microbes.”
The water tested within the upper end of the accepted range for TTHM and HAA5. The water tested at 54 and 55 ppb of TTHM, at the end of the 49-55 ppb goal.
The same was true for HAA5, with 45 ppb detected in the accepted range of 41-45 ppb.
While the report notes that some who drink water containing too much TTHM over “many years” may have liver, kidney or central nervous problems, and that those who drink water with too much TTHM and HAA5 over “many years” may have a higher chance of developing cancer, the report found no violations and the town was within the accepted range. The amounts found were attributed to being a “byproduct of drinking water disinfection.”
To view a full copy of the report, visit goo.gl/rZuDtY.
Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.
